Are you a beatboxing fan? Or better still, would you like to showcase your beatboxing ability to others? Then you need the best beatboxing microphone. The best beatboxing microphone will make your voice louder such that everyone in your audience can hear you.
In today’s post, we are going to review some of the best beatboxing microphones in the market for live performance. But first, What is a beatboxing microphone? Beatboxing is the art of mimicking beatboxes (drum machines) and other musical instruments using your mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.
Beatboxing is popular in the hip-hop industry but it has found its way to other music genres. But for you to be able to perform a beatbox, you need a microphone. Beatboxing requires a good mic technique. When you have the best beatboxing mic, it will make your performance better and it will even improve your interaction with your crowd.
There are numerous beatboxing mics in the market and they all claim to be the best. But all microphones are not made the same, so they differ in their operation and the vocal quality that they produce. Therefore, you need to know how to choose the best microphone for beatboxing.
Features to look for when buying a beatboxing microphone
You just can’t buy any microphone for beatboxing! You need a dedicated microphone which will get the work done. Here are some of the salient things that you should consider:
1. Frequency response
The beatboxing mic should have a frequency response of between 20 and 15 kHz. A microphone with a flat frequency gives a better, near-natural, and accurate sound.
For instance, dynamic microphones are known to produce a wide range of frequency responses which is why they make the best beatboxing microphones. Therefore, when buying a microphone for beatboxing, ensure that you choose one with an appropriate frequency range that will efficiently pick you natural vocals.
2. Proximity Effect
The proximity effect can be explained as to how a microphone enhances frequencies around it that are low. Beatboxing microphones when held close to the mouth, pick the sound frequencies better thus making the sound amplification better.
Dynamic mics are designed to pick low-frequency sounds that are usually below 100 Hz. Therefore, the closer to your mouth you hold the mic, the proximity effect of the mic will be increased. For best performance, you should hold the closed cup of the mic closest to your mouth.
3. Easy to hold
When you are buying a microphone for beatboxing, you should settle for one that you can hold in your hands easily. Alternatively, if you have a mic stand, then it should fit in the stand.
A microphone that perfectly fits in your hand will give you ample time while performing. When the mic is too big for your hand, you will struggle to hold which might affect your performance.
4. Moisture resistance
Usually, a beatboxing mic is held very close to the mouth. When making various sounds and pronouncing some vowels, some saliva might be spit on the microphone. Therefore, the mic should be moisture resistant so that it will not be damaged by the moisture or saliva that comes from your mouth.
5. Noise cancelling
A good microphone for beatboxing should have noise-canceling ability. This feature will shut out any unwanted sound that might be in your surroundings so that only the sound of your beatboxing is captured and amplified.
6. Sound quality
It goes without saying on the importance of this feature in a beatboxing mic. The primary reason for acquiring a beatboxing microphone is to be able to produce high-quality sound.
Therefore, make sure that the mic you are buying can produce the best sound. Also, the sound produced should not have any latency. Otherwise, if the sound produced is not of good quality, you will be making unnecessary noises and your beatboxing career will be ruined. So, ensure that you either test the microphone if you are buying from a store or read reviews if you are buying it online.
Type of microphone
There are two types of microphones:
- Dynamic mics
- Condenser mics
We have already mentioned one of the mics above in our explanations but we did not give explanations on that they mean. So, here’s the difference:
A dynamic microphone is meant for live performance whether on an open-mic or concert performance. It is known for its booming and big sound which is exquisite for outdoor performance.
A condenser microphone, on the other hand, is meant to capture vocals with high accuracy, a lot of details, and a high level. In most cases, condenser mics are ideal for studio use when they can capture instrumentals, acoustics, and vocals.
Therefore, for beatboxing, it is generally recommended to use a dynamic microphone. Why? Because they can handle high pitched notes without producing any distortion sounds.
BEST MICROPHONE FOR BEATBOXING
1. Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball
One of the most famous and highly regarded beatboxing mics is the Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball. It is popular because of its reliability. If you are looking for a mic with a crystal clear and highly responsive sound, then this is the most recommended.
In terms of construction quality and design, the Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball has a solid construction. It features die-cast zinc with a black finish.
At the neck of the mic, there is a red knob for volume control. This allows you to control the volume at which you are playing. That’s not all, it is lightweight and compact so it will fit in your hands well.
Moreover, the Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball is made with a jagged steel grille mesh that can endure harsh handling. Furthermore, the XLR connector is gold plated to make it look stylish.
In terms of audio quality, the microphone comes with a cardioid polar design which makes it highly sensitive. Besides that, it has a good proximity effect which takes care of sound distortions and reverberations.
The Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball can handle high-frequency sounds of up to 140dB without producing any distortions. Also, it can capture low-frequency sounds with high clarity.
Most importantly, the Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball has a low mass diaphragm which helps to capture your vocals at a near-natural sound.
The frequency ranges of this microphone is between 50 and 16,000 Hz. The bass response is quite good as well.
Overall, the Audix Fireball V Harmonica Beatbox Microphone Fire Ball is a good value for your money and it will meet your beatboxing recording needs.
Pros
- Clear and highly responsive sound
- High-quality construction
- Sleek design
- Compact and lightweight
- Durable
- High vocal sensitivity
- Zero distortions
- Wide frequency range
Cons
- Costly
2. Shure SM58
Another high sort after mic for beatboxing is the Shure SM58 because of its reliability. In terms of design, the microphone comes with an inbuilt spherical filter. The filter is protected by a metal grille mesh that is rugged which acts as a shock absorber. Therefore, it can withstand harsh and mishandling.
Also, the handle is narrow which is easy to hold with one hand. In addition to that, it has a special adhesive compound that helps to prevent any external or internal temperature changes. This adhesive compound also acts as a shock absorber which protects the transformer by forming an airtight chamber around the transformer.
In terms of audio quality, the Shure SM58 comes with a unidirectional polar pattern which helps to prevent any audio clutter. This ensures that only crystal clear, warm, and high-quality sound is produced. Also, thanks to the cardioids, the mic has a nice low bass response.
That’s not all; thanks to the low-cut roll-off which acts to prevent wind noise and preventing any unwanted sounds. Also, it has low sensitivity so it can be used for recording in untreated rooms.
The proximity effect of the Shure SM58 is perfect which helps to boost the bass response. It can handle a frequency range of up to 100 Hz.
In addition to that, the Shure SM58 comes with a presence peak which plays a significant role in enhancing speech integrity.
Pros
- Reliable
- Comes with a metal grille which acts as a shock absorber
- Impressive vocal quality
- High-frequency range
- Sturdy construction
- Good bass response
- Has special adhesive compound that acts as a shock absorber
- Narrow handle
- Low sensitivity
Cons
- Has a thin XLR cable
3. AKG D5 Dynamic Microphone
One of the most famous brands and manufacturer of high-quality audio equipment is AKG. We now bring you one of their best beatboxing mics – the AKG D5 Dynamic Microphone.
The AKG D5 is a high-quality microphone that produces impressive and loud audio. If you want to produce great sounding beatbox sound, then you should use this mic.
In terms of design, the AKG D5 comes with a glossy metal grille with a dark-blue finish. Therefore, in terms of durability, you can be sure it will serve you for many days to come.
What’s more, the microphone has a patented and laminated varimotion diaphragm. The thickness of the diaphragm varies from one place to another. With the varimotion diaphragm, you can adjust the tone without any altering the resonators to get high-quality sound.
There are double shock absorbers which prevent the microphone from any mechanical damage. Besides that, there are inbuilt pop filters which help to filter out any pop sounds in your surroundings to ensure only high-quality sound is captured. Therefore, even if you are performing in a noisy environment, only crystal clear vocals will be heard.
Thanks to the sturdy construction, the AKG D5 can withstand any mechanical fall. Moreover, it is a wireless beatboxing mic which is highly reliable.
Also, you can place the AKG D5 mic close to your mouth and no distortion sounds will be produced. Furthermore, it comes with a sound pressure level which helps to capture even sounds with low frequency.
Pros
- Sturdy construction
- Long-lasting
- No distortion produced
- Wireless
- Highly reliable
- Inbuilt pop filters
- Chubby bass response
- Clear sound
- Patented laminated varimotion diaphragm
- Dual shock absorbers
Cons
- None to note
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4. Behringer UltraVoice Microphone
The Behringer UltraVoice Microphone comes with a simple yet sleek design but with an impressive performance. It is designed with a cardioids system which helps to shut out all unwanted sounds to ensure only your vocals are captured.
One of the great features of the Behringer UltraVoice Microphone is the inbuilt shock mount. The shock mount acts to cut down any ambient noise in your surroundings. Also, it has a wide frequency range which can capture even low sounds.
Moreover, the Behringer UltraVoice Microphone has a moisture resistance ability. Therefore, even if you hold the microphone close to your mouth, it will not be affected by the moisture that comes from your mouth.
In terms of design, the Behringer UltraVoice Microphone has sturdy construction with a metal grille cover which acts a shock absorber. Therefore, the mic will serve you for years before you can purchase another one.
Sound-wise, only clear, smooth and transparent sound is captured. Thanks to the cardioids system which filters out all unnecessary ambient noise.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Cardioids system
- Inbuilt shock mount
- Wide frequency range
- Sturdy construction
- Impressive sound quality
- Resistant to moisture
- Noise cancellation
- Value for money
Cons
- The wire it comes with is of low quality
5. Shure BETA 58A
One of the longest-serving microphones for beatboxing is the SHURE BETA 58A. It has stood the test of time and it is well known for the sophisticated, big and full sound it produces. Therefore, if you are looking for a microphone that will produce the best of your vocals, this is the mic to beat.
The SHURE BETA 58A is designed with a super cardioids system which is meant for sound reinforcement. It is ideal for studio recording. Most of the professional recording artists prefer to use this mic.
One of the things that make the SHURE BETA 58A stand out is the high-quality cardioids pattern which helps to capture the vocals in their natural quality. Also, the cardioids pattern helps to reject any ambient noise in your surroundings.
In addition to that, the frequency range of this microphone is upgraded to ensure that it captures even very low sound frequencies. Better still, the bass response and mids are captured at a close-up quality.
Moreover, the SHURE BETA 58A comes with an inbuilt neodymium magnet which helps to produce vocals of high-quality.
Construction-wise, there is a metal grille mesh which acts as a shock absorber. Therefore, you can use for stage performance and even if it drops, it is well protected. Additionally, there is a shock mount which acts to reduce mechanical vibrations thus resisting distortion production.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Inbuilt shock mounts
- Inbuilt neodymium magnet
- High-quality cardioids system
- Ideal for professional use
- Impressive sound quality
- Upgraded frequency range
- Brightened midrange
- Prevents mechanical noise
Cons
- Costly
Conclusion
It is our sincere hope that this post about the best beatboxing microphones has been helpful. Each of the beatboxing mics that we have reviewed here comes with its pros and cons, which to some people might make it hard to make the best choice. But we have tried our level best to narrow down the choices to make your choice easier.
In the beatboxing industry, a microphone is an extremely important tool. Therefore, you need the best beatboxing mic there is. Whether you are looking for a microphone for studio recording, live performance or both, we have given you a guide on what to look for so that you can make the right selection.
All the mics that we have reviewed above are a sure bet. So go ahead and choose the best according to you. However, we would like to recommend the SHURE BETA 58A microphone because of its upgraded frequency range, inbuilt neodymium magnet, and shock mounts. Feel the joy the beatboxing brings and have fun.